“Oh, you do have friends now,” he snapped. “You’re my wife. No one would dare snub Mrs. Corey McRae. So, if there is anyone you wish to have invited, I will see to it that they are here.”
Chuckling, he added, “Perhaps there is someone you would like to invite just to lord it over them?”
“No, no one,” she murmured, shaking her head from side to side, her expression somber. “I don’t want revenge. I just want peace.”
Picking up a small frosted cake, he took a bite. “I thought about inviting Nancy Warren Stoner. That would be a much-needed comeuppance for her. She wouldn’t dare refuse an invitation to attend such an event, and I would love to see her face. You, the woman she hates more than anyone else in the whole world, are now mistress of the house and hold the position she so coveted. You’ll never know how that woman tried to get me to marry her, Kitty.”
Her whisper was barely audible. “I don’t want to know.”
He went on as though she had not protested. “Our last encounter was quite unpleasant, and she made some rather ugly threats. I’ve also heard that she is getting herself involved with that scoundrel, Jerome Danton. He and those blasted night riders of his. Disgusting. Every one of them should be hung from the highest limb in Wayne County.”
“I don’t think they had anything to do with what happened to Mattie Glass.”
Corey’s head jerked up. He swallowed hard. “What did you say?”
Her voice was emotionless, but her lavender eyes sparkled with anger. “I heard about what happened to the widow Mattie Glass. I think it’s atrocious, but I do not believe that Jerome Danton and his men had anything to do with it.”
“And how did you come by this information? Who have you been talking to?” He was unable to keep the alarmed tone from his voice.
“The parson’s wife whispered to me about what happened. She told me that some people think Mr. Danton is responsible. I don’t think so.”
“Now why do you say that? A cross was burned. This is the way Danton and his hoodlums do things.”
“No, it is not the way they do things. They have never attacked a white woman before, and if they did do such a thing, they would not have left such an obvious calling card. I think someone burned the cross to put the blame on Danton’s men.”
“You sound quite concerned, my dear. Why?” He gazed at her through narrowed eyes. Before, she had seemed placid, whipped, defeated. Now he saw the anger sparkling, and he could not understand the change.
“I want whoever did it caught. I happen to be quite fond of Mattie Glass. She was one of the few people who was ever kind to me when I was working at the hospital. She came with other women from her church to minister to the wounded, write letters for them and do what they could. The other women would always go out of their way to hurl insults at me. Nancy did her job well. She had everyone hating me and blaming me for Nathan’s death.
“One day, one of the women from the church, who happened to be a cousin of Nathan’s, suddenly went into a rage and began calling me all kinds of names. Mattie came to my defense. She reminded her that she professed to be a Christian, and that it was a sin for her to judge me. She took the woman outside, then came back to apologize for her. We talked a bit, and I told her not to bother herself with me, that I was used to the insults.”
Kitty blinked hard. It moved her to think of one of the few times anyone had shown her any tenderness in the past year. “Mattie cried. She stood there and looked at me with tears streaming down her face and told me how she hated the way her brothers and sisters in God were treating me. I never forgot her kindness. And each time she visited the hospital, no matter how busy we both were, she always found a moment to come up and whisper to me that she was still remembering me in her prayers. She is a good woman, a Christian woman, and it makes me so angry to think of what happened to her. I want to see the men responsible punished.”
Corey would have to make sure that he and Rance did not discuss anything where they might be overheard. There was no telling what Kitty might do if she discovered his men had been responsible.
“In a few days, when Mrs. Glass is feeling better, I intend to pay her a visit and offer to buy her land for a generous sum of money. She can then move into town and raise her sons there. It’s too dangerous for a woman to be living out here in the country without a man around for protection.”
Kitty’s look was suspicious. “Why would you do that? Why should you care?”
“For the same reason you care, because I think a deplorable thing has happened.”
“I still don’t understand why you would offer to buy her land.”
“What kind of a person do you take me for?”
“Corey, I know you,” she sighed, setting down the tea cup and dabbing at her lips with a linen napkin. “I have found out that when you are nice to people, you always have an ulterior motive.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say to your husband, Kitty. I won’t stand for it.”
“It’s true.” Her eyes locked with his, blazing. “You are nice to people only when you figure you will get something out of them. Look how you used me! You ravished me mercilessly tonight, with no tenderness or affection. You called my child a bastard, ridiculed my helplessness. No, Corey, I see you now for what you really are—selfish, uncaring, unfeeling. So you must have a motive in wanting to help Mattie Glass. What is it? That lovely stream on her property? I visited there with Poppa many times as we made our rounds selling the honey from our hives. I know how lovely her land is. I will wager that you already own her delinquent tax certificate but are trying to create a respectable image. You don’t want it said that Corey McRae threw a helpless widow and her two children off of her land.”
He got to his feet so quickly that the teacup went clattering to the floor. “If I would not hate to see that lovely face of yours marred for our party,” he said through gritted teeth, fists clenched at his sides, “I’d teach you the price you pay for insulting your husband. I would teach you your place, just as my servants have felt the lash to learn theirs.”
She stood up also. “I don’t fear you. You can force me to submit to you, and you can beat me at your will, but I will never fear you.”
An evil smile crept across his lips, and Kitty fought the impulse to shiver. He could look quite formidable, but she was not about to be intimidated.
His black eyes began to dance with pleasure, and he suddenly laughed. Purple eyes sparkling like fiery red rubies, peach blossom cheeks flushed with her rage—she was beautiful!
“My God, Kitty, you are the most delightful creature I have ever met, the loveliest woman I have ever seen, and I will be the envy of every man in the state for having a wife like you. Perhaps you hate me now, but you will come to revel in your new status.”
“I do hate you,” she hissed, not caring if he did take the lash to her. “I had no idea just how selfish and brutal you could be until tonight. I will always hate you.”
Amused, he raised an eyebrow. “And I suppose you will always love your dashing cavalry officer, even though he deserted you when you were carrying his child?”
“Yes.” She nodded firmly. “I will always love Travis. Nothing you can do will ever change that. And I refuse to discuss him with you.”
“Very well.” He yawned, touching his fingertips to his open mouth. “It doesn’t matter anyway. You’re mine now, and you will live your life the way I choose. The past doesn’t have any part in our present or our future. Continue to resent me and you will only find misery. This I promise you.”
He bent and brushed his lips against hers, but she turned her face to the side. “Good night, my loving wife,” he laughed. “Sleep well.”
He left, closing the door.
It was over. For a little while, praise God, it was over.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Dulcie opened the blue velvet drapes that morning, Kitty awakened to ask that her son be brought to her. Fed and bathed, he snuggled in her arms a
s she marveled once again over his precious cherub’s face. He soon fell asleep, and Dulcie returned him to his nursery, then helped Kitty dress.
Another servant brought in her breakfast tray. Kitty forced herself to eat the hoecakes, slathered in molasses and fresh-churned butter, but the slab of fried ham was too greasy for her still-weak stomach. After a second cup of tea, she lay back down on the bed Dulcie had freshly made. It was not long before Hugo arrived with the invitation list.
“I have no names to give you,” Kitty told him sharply. “I don’t care who Mr. McRae has invited.”
“But it is your wedding party.” Hugo looked annoyed. Kitty didn’t like him. There was something about him that she found distasteful. Perhaps it was his profound loyalty to his master.
She dismissed him quickly. “Plan the party the way you and Mr. McRae wish, Hugo. I don’t want to be bothered with any of it. I’m tired now, and I’d like to rest.”
He bowed slightly. “Whatever you wish, madam, but I should inform you that Mrs. Rivenbark will be here shortly after lunch to take fittings for your gown.”
“What gown? I have not requested any new clothes.”
“You are to be fitted for your ball gown, madam.” He sounded exasperated. Before Corey came along and tutored him, Hugo had been a cotton-patch slave. It galled her to see him take such a condescending attitude toward the Negroes around him.
Now she eyed him coolly and said, “All right. Have Mrs. Rivenbark come upstairs when she arrives. I suppose I am expected to be fashionably dressed for the occasion. Dear me, Hugo, what would I do without you to coach me?” she added sarcastically.
He frowned, gave his slight bow once again, and left the room with a tight, angry look on his face. Dulcie could not control her giggles. “Miss Kitty, you sure put him in his place. You got no idea how mean he is to the rest of us.”
“I can imagine, Dulcie. Life here doesn’t seem very pleasant for anyone. It doesn’t matter about me. I can cope. But I will not allow my child to suffer.”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that baby. I looks after him real good, ma’am. He’s such a cute li’l fellow. I look after him like he was my own.”
“I would like his cradle to be brought in here so that I can care for him myself.”
Dulcie faced Kitty with a frightened expression. “Miss Kitty, Mistah McRae won’t allow that. He say I’m to tend to that young’un, ’cause you gonna have plenty to do.”
“Plenty to do?” Kitty echoed. “What does he mean?”
“Oh, I thinks he wants you to have lots of teas and parties and—”
“Well, we’ll see about that. I have no intentions of fluttering around serving tea to a lot of old biddies who secretly hate me. I want to spend as much time as possible with my son. He’s the only thing in this world that means anything to me. You bring in the cradle like I told you to, and all of his things. I am taking over his care. And when Mrs. Rivenbark leaves this afternoon, I would like you to send for Jacob. I haven’t seen him in a while and I want to talk to him.”
Dulcie stared down at her feet.
“Well?” Kitty asked impatiently. “What’s the matter now?”
Dulcie continued to bow her head as she mumbled, “Mistah McRae ain’t gonna allow no field niggers in this house, ma’am. Jacob’s come to the back door several times to ask about you, but Fanny, the cook, she would send for me, and I’d have to tell him he couldn’t come in. Last time, Hugo told him the next time he showed his face at that door, he’d run him off the place. Told him he better think about that, ’cause he wouldn’t have nowhere to go.”
“And you let him treat your uncle like that? And what about his grandsons?”
“Fanny, she look after them. Oh, I wanted to stand up and say something, but it’d just make things worse for everybody. Hugo can run those grandboys off with Jacob, and then what would Jacob do? Nobody wants to give an old man a job, Miss Kitty. Jacob knows that.”
“Then I’ll go into the fields and find him myself. And if you don’t bring John and his things into this room, I’ll do that myself, too. Honestly, Dulcie, I had hoped that you and I would become close, that I could trust you. After all, I asked you to slip one of my letters to Captain Coltrane out, didn’t I? I realize you’re frightened of Hugo and Mr. McRae, but I am mistress of this house now, and I should have some say-so.”
She stopped as she saw the look on Dulcie’s face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her shoulders were trembling. Slowly, realization spread through Kitty like liquid fire. “You never mailed my letter, did you?” she cried. “Dear God in heaven, Dulcie, I trusted you!”
The Negro girl continued to sob, and finally Kitty snapped in disgust, “Never mind. I had Jacob take letters directly into town. I know some messages were mailed. What pains me so is to realize you betrayed me. What did you do with the letter I gave you? You might as well tell me the truth now.”
“I…I gave it to Mistah McRae.” Her voice was a low, anguished moan. “And when he finds out I told you, he gonna beat the skin off my back, for sure. He gonna run me off this place. I ain’t gonna have no place to go.”
“You’ll find another job, Dulcie. You’re young, strong, efficient. I wish I could keep this confidential between us, but I intend to let Corey know that I have found out about his deception. Oh, damn him!” She leaped off the bed and began to pace up and down the room. “Damn him to hell! I learn more and more about how devious he can be.”
Dulcie continued to stand holding the chamber pot, the tears still flowing. With a sudden feeling of pity for the girl, who had done only what she had been told to do, Kitty put her arms around Dulcie’s shoulders. “You will find another job if Mr. McRae makes you leave, Dulcie, and you will be better off. Not everyone in this world is as mean as Corey McRae, thank God. I wish I could leave.”
She started to walk away, but Dulcie began to cry even harder, and Kitty whirled around, alarmed. “Whatever is the matter, Dulcie? I won’t let him beat you. And if Hugo tries, you run straight for me, do you hear?”
“It ain’t that,” the girl sobbed. “I can’t get no other job, missy, not working in no house. They’ll put me in the fields, and I can’t work in no fields, not when I’m gonna have a baby.”
“A baby?” Kitty gasped. “Whose baby?”
“Hugo!” She spat with contempt. “He got me this way when I first come here, and I lost the baby. I was glad. But he got me this way again, and I come to love little John so much that I wants a baby of my own, even if it is by Hugo. I don’t want to lose this ’un, but I will if I get run off from here and put in the fields to grub on my hands and knees in the dirt all day.” She hiccupped.
“A very touching scene.”
They both turned to see Corey standing in the open door between his room and Kitty’s. He can move as silently as a cat, Kitty thought, a chill moving up and down her spine.
He stepped closer. “Now, Dulcie, don’t you worry about a thing. One day Mrs. McRae will thank you for helping me to save her from herself. She is much better off married to me, as she will come to realize once she gets over her stubbornness.”
He slipped his arm about Kitty’s waist, and she stiffened as he kissed her cheek. “Good morning, my beautiful bride,” he whispered. She did not respond. He turned to Dulcie once again. “You will remain here, and I will see to it that your duties are lightened as the time for your confinement approaches. We don’t want to lose this baby. Goodness, no. If you learn to read and write and become efficient and educated enough to take over the duties of the house along with Hugo, I will see that he marries you.”
“I don’t want to marry him!” she screamed, then cringed as she realized her mistake in contradicting her master.
“Oh, Hugo isn’t all bad. He’s just trying to do the job I have asked him to do. Now, you run along and empty the chamber pot, then tell Fanny to prepare refreshments for this afternoon. The fitting will take awhile, I am sure.”
Dulcie starte
d to leave, but he called out to her once again. She stopped walking but did not turn, keeping her head down fearfully as he said, “I also overheard my wife’s request about moving the baby in here. It will not be done. I don’t want that old fool Jacob coming in the house, either. Now get on with your work.” The snap in his voice sent her scurrying.
Kitty whirled on him furiously. “How dare you tell me I cannot move my son into my room with me? And Jacob is a very old, dear friend…” She was trembling with rage.
He gripped her shoulders and gave her a violent shake. “Now, you listen to me, woman, and you listen well. You are trying my patience. I run things in my house. Is it going to take a sound beating to put that in your mind? I will not tolerate these scenes, especially in front of my servants. That baby is not going to be moved in here because I have other plans for you besides tending to him. You are going to be a social leader, my dear. As for Jacob, I will not have my wife entertaining a field nigra in my house. Is that clear?”
He released her, and she stumbled dizzily, almost falling, but he caught her again, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her shoulders. “I have had about all I intend to take from that spitfire temper of yours, Kitty.”
She was coming out of her dazed state and she turned on him furiously. “How dare you talk to me this way, as though I were a slave? I will move my son in here, and I will see Jacob even if I have to go to the fields myself. And now that I know you kept Dulcie from mailing my letter, I think I hate you even more! If I can find a way, I will leave.”
His palm cracked across her face, sending her reeling backward. Losing her footing, she fell to the floor. Before she could make a move, he was there to yank her back up, entwining his fingers in her hair. Again he slapped her, this time knocking her across the bed. Then he was falling on top of her, pushing up her skirt, ripping at her undergarments. Twisting and moaning, Kitty fought him with every ounce of strength she could muster, but she was easily overpowered. She felt her legs being spread apart roughly, and then he was pummeling inside her, thrusting to and fro savagely, not caring that she cried out with the pain.
The Raging Hearts: The Coltrane Saga, Book 2 Page 27